Module for a gaming machine

• US 20060046855A1
• Filed: 08/25/2004
• Published: 03/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Original Assignee: IGT (International Game Technology)
• Inventors: Paulsen, Craig, Nguyen, Binh, Goodman, John, Kinsley, Mike
• Granted Patent: US 8,579,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/43
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/32 for games, toys, sports, or amusements
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3202 Hardware aspects of a gaming system, e.g. components, construction, architecture thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3206 Player sensing means, e.g. presence detection, biometrics
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/323 wherein the player is informed, e.g. advertisements, odds, instructions
• CPC Class Codes: G07F 17/3239 Tracking of individual players

Abstract

The present invention provides various modules for use with gaming machines. One such module is configured to receive data from a portable memory device and/or from a network device, e.g., from a game server. In some embodiments, the module includes, or is disposed within, a player tracking unit. Some embodiments of the module include a central processing unit (“CPU”) and a memory device such as a dual-ported random access memory (“DPRAM”). Data, such as software or content, may be downloaded to the module'"'"'s CPU and written to the module'"'"'s memory. According to some embodiments, data are written to a DPRAM in the module and simultaneously written from the DPRAM to the gaming machine via a high-speed digital bus. In some implementations, a memory in the module is configured to emulate a memory of the gaming machine. This allows a CPU of the gaming machine to execute software stored in the memory in the module. In alternative implementations, a CPU in the module can execute software stored in the memory in the module.

Claims

1. A module for a gaming machine, comprising:

a first module port configured for downloading first data from a server;

a first random access memory (“

RAM”

) having a first port and a second port, the second port configured for communication with a digital communication bus;

a first central processor configured to read downloaded data and write the downloaded data to the first RAM via the first port,

wherein the module is further configured to emulate a second RAM of a gaming machine, the second RAM being configured for storing software for games of chance for execution on a second CPU of the gaming machine, wherein the software for the games of chance is designed to control an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on the games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine.

2. The module of claim 1, wherein the second RAM comprises at least one electrically programmable read-only memory (“

EPROM”

).

3. The module of claim 2, further comprising an in-circuit EPROM emulator for connecting the module and the EPROM.

4. The module of claim 1, further comprising a second module port configured for downloading second data from a portable memory device.

5. A player tracking unit comprising the module of claim 1.

6. A module for a gaming machine, comprising:

a first module port configured for downloading first data from a portable memory device;

a dual-ported random access memory (“

DPRAM”

) having a first port and a second port, the second port configured for communication with a digital communication bus, the DPRAM configured to be simultaneously accessible by both the module'"'"'s CPU and the game machine'"'"'s CPU; and

a central processor configured to read downloaded data and write the downloaded data to the DPRAM via the first port,

wherein the DPRAM is further configured to transfer the downloaded data to a gaming machine via a digital bus connection and wherein the gaming machine is operable to receive an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine.

7. The module of claim 6, further comprising a digital communication bus configured for communication between the second port and the digital bus connection.

8. A player tracking unit comprising the module of claim 6.

9. The module of claim 6, further comprising a second module port configured for downloading second data from a server.

10. A module for a gaming machine, comprising:

a first module port configured for downloading first data from a server;

a dual-ported random access memory (“

DPRAM”

) having a first port and a second port, the second port configured for communication with a digital communication bus, the DPRAM being configured to be simultaneously accessible by both the module'"'"'s CPU and the game machine'"'"'s CPU to read and write from the first port and the second port;

a first central processor configured to read downloaded data and write the downloaded data to the DPRAM via the first port,

wherein the module is further configured to emulate a gaming machine memory, the gaming machine memory being configured for storing software for games of chance, the software designed to control an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on the games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine.

11. The module of claim 10, further comprising a second module port configured for downloading second data from a portable memory device.

12. The module of claim 10, further comprising an in-circuit memory emulator for connecting the module and the gaming machine memory.

13. A player tracking unit, comprising:

a first port;

a first central processing unit (“

CPU”

) configured for enabling player tracking functionality and for communication with a game server via the first port;

a first random access memory (“

RAM”

) configured for communication with the first CPU and for communication with a second CPU of a gaming machine, the first RAM being configured to receive downloaded games of chance from the first CPU, the first RAM being further configured to emulate a second RAM of the gaming machine, the second RAM being configured for storing software for games of chance for execution on a second CPU of the gaming machine, the software designed to control an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on the games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine.

14. The player tracking unit of claim 13, wherein the second RAM is an EPROM.

15. A gaming machine comprising the player tracking unit of claim 13.

16. The player tracking unit of claim 13, further comprising a second port configured for communication with a portable memory device.

17. A player tracking unit, comprising:

a first port;

a first central processing unit (“

CPU”

) configured for enabling player tracking functionality and for downloading games of chance from a game server via the first port; and

a first random access memory (“

RAM”

) configured for communication with the first CPU, the first RAM being configured to store downloaded games of chance from the first CPU,

wherein the first CPU is further configured for executing the downloaded games of chance, thereby bypassing a second CPU of a gaming machine, the gaming machine configured to control an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on the games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit.

18. A gaming method, comprising:

writing data from a portable memory device to a first central processing unit (“

CPU”

) of a player tracking device;

writing the data from the first central processing unit to a first memory of the player tracking device while simultaneously reading the data by a second CPU of a gaming machine; and

writing the data from the second CPU of the gaming machine to a second memory of the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is operable to receive an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on games of chance and to control an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the step of writing the data to the first CPU comprises writing data from a portable memory device.

20. A gaming system, comprising:

a module, comprising;

a first module port configured for downloading first data from a server;

a dual-ported random access memory (“

DPRAM”

) having a first port and a second port, the second port configured for communication with a digital communication bus, the DPRAM being simultaneously read/write accessible from the first port and from the second port;

a central processor configured to read downloaded data and write the downloaded data to the DPRAM via the first port;

a gaming machine, comprising;

means for receiving an input of cash or indicia of credit for wagers on games of chance;

means for playing the games of chance; and

a logic device for controlling an output of cash or indicia of credit from the gaming machine according to outcomes of the games of chance; and

a digital communication bus for connecting the second port with the gaming machine, wherein the gaming machine is further configured to read the downloaded data via second port and the digital communication bus.

21. The gaming system of claim 20, wherein the module is further configured to provide the functionality of a player tracking unit.

22. The gaming system of claim 20, further comprising a second module port configured for downloading second data from a portable memory device.

23. The gaming system of claim 22, wherein the second module port comprises a USB port.